SD:When did you start designing jewelry?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:I first started making jewelry when I was 15 and in high school. It was something I had picked up from visiting bead shops
in the Los Angeles area when I was growing up in the 1970's. It was very popular back then to make your own earrings and necklaces using clay and glass beads. Since my friends and I were little hippies, we thought it was very cool to make our own "everything" including clothes and jewelry!SD:What inspires your jewelry designs?
SD:I am inspired by nature. There is no doubt, by looking at my designs, that I love the outdoors and gardens. I love flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, and fairies. Also, color is a huge inspiration for me. I am also a painter and therefore I often find myself combining and blending colors in jewelry in very much the same way I would in a landscape painting. Blending cool and warm colors can often bring together new and exciting pieces of jewelry that are unique and can be worn any time of year. I love that!
SD:Tell us about your background—where you were born and grew up and where you live now.
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:I was born and lived until I was 30 years old in Los Angeles, California. I went to school and studied Fine Arts and music at California State University of Los Angeles. When I left L.A, I moved to Arcata, located in Northern California where I started my current company, Byrd Designs. I lived in Kauai, HI and then moved to Hood River, Oregon for 6 years. I finally settled in the beautiful western North Carolina mountains near Asheville where I currently live in the woods with my husband and our blind blue heeler dog, Lyle.
SD:What are your other interests and hobbies?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:I am studying filmmaking and making lots of documentary films. I've posted some instructional videos on how to use some of my hair accessories at Byrd Designs-Updo You can also see some of my other work on my other web site Blind Lyle Films
In addition, I travel internationally every year to a new location where I can experience cultural exchange, exotic foods, and a new adventure every time. I love ancient civilizations, politics, movies, good food, and world music.
SD:Were you creative when you were a child?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:I was so creative that my family didn't know what to do with me! It was a struggle back then because most parents didn't know how to nurture that kind of behavior in children like we do today. I was one of those kids who took apart radios and put them back together again just to see how they work. I am still like that today. Yet, when I was a kid, I was often stifled from being creative. But somehow I persevered and though I had odds against me, I turned my creativity into a life of beauty, love, work, and satisfaction. I cannot emphasize this enough to all inspiring artists: if you have a dream, and you want to make that dream earn you money, just do it. If you do it, and you really LOVE doing it, the money will come. It is amazing how it works.
SD:Why have you chosen jewelry design as one means to express your creativity?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:It was something that happened almost unexpectedly. I was wanting to make money doing anything creative and independent from a "real" job. I wanted to work for myself and I knew I was a good potter and a good musician, but when people started asking me where they could buy one of the barrettes that I had made for my hair, I knew this was a good place to start. I made barrettes for everyone I knew and then gift stores began wanting to buy them wholesale from me for resale. It's been 14 years since then, and we are still going strong!
SD:Do you have a following of people who are collectors of Byrd Designs Jewelry?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:Yes! Many people from all over the world love to collect and add to their collections. I try to design with this in mind and love the feedback from our customers which often helps me with the direction on where I may be going next with a design.
SD:What is your favorite jewelry material to work with and why and do you have a favorite gemstone or precious metal you like to use most?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:I love working with Austrian Crystals due mostly to the vibrant and versatile colors and of course, the glitter! The more sparkle, the better! I also love finding things here and there when I travel and recycling parts as much as possible. I am into finding old antique pieces of jewelry or art and using some of the parts to incorporate into my new designs.
SD:Describe for us one of your favorite pieces of jewelry from your collection?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:One of my favorite pieces is my painted butterfly barrette and comb (item numbers 2160 and 9160). Each one is hand painted by me and I spend quite a lot of time getting them "just right" in color and shade. It is painting for me but on jewelry. Using two of my interests in one element is a great pleasure.
SD:Do you offer custom-made jewelry?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:I no longer offer this due to time restraints.
SD:Upon placing an order, how long before delivery?
Jaime Byrd, Byrd Designs:I usually get orders out anywhere from 1-3 days from the order date. This is what I do, so unless I am out of the country (where I post on my web site when I am and when I return) I do everything I can to get orders out as soon as possible!
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